- US strikes Iranian-backed militias
- Civilian casualties reported
- Retaliation for drone attack
The strikes occurred hours after the remains of three Army Reserve soldiers slain in a drone attack in Jordan were returned to the United States, where bereaved families and President Joe Biden and other senior defence leaders accompanied them.
Local authorities report that at least 85 targets in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias were struck by U.S. airstrikes on Friday, resulting in the deaths of some civilians.
A multitude of aircraft, including long-range B-1 bombers dispatched from the United States, were used in what constituted the initial barrage of retaliation against the drone strike that killed three American forces in Jordan over the weekend.
At least 16 persons, including civilians, were reported killed by the Iraqi government. At the same time, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the United Kingdom, tallied 23 deaths in Syria, for a combined death toll of 39 in both nations.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted airstrikes against the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and affiliated militia groups in Iraq and Syria,” according to a statement.
“Over eighty-five targets were struck by U.S. military forces using a variety of aircraft, including long-range bombers operated from the country.
In the airstrikes, more than 125 precision munitions were used.
Unmanned aerial vehicle storage facilities, intelligence centres, command and control operations, missiles and rockets, and logistics and munitions supply chain establishments were all targets of the strikes.
President Joe Biden and other high-ranking American officials have issued dire warnings for days that the nation would retaliate against the militias, making it abundantly clear that this would be a “tiered response” over time and not a single blow.
“Our response commenced today,” Mr. Biden said in response to the assaults. “It will proceed at locations and times of our choosing.
“The United States maintains a non-combatant stance towards conflict, both in the Middle East and globally.” But let all those who may attempt to harm us know this: We will respond if you break an American.”
On Saturday, a British government spokesperson stated that the country “supports” the United States’ “right to respond” to attacks.
A statement read, “We have long condemned Iran’s destabilising activities in the region, including its financial, political, and military support for a number of militant groups.”
Iraq warns that the region is “on the verge of the abyss.”
The Iraqi government stated in response to the strikes, claiming that security forces in the Akashat and al-Qaim regions, in addition to “neighbouring civilian places,” were the targets.
Syrian television has reported that the vicinity of Deir ez-Zur was the target of an attack, and The New York Times has also said that Mayadin and Bukamal in Syria were also targeted.
“This aggressive strike will jeopardise security in Iraq and the region, and it also undermines efforts to establish the necessary stability,” said Bassem al-Awadi, a spokesman for the Iraqi government.
“Iraq reaffirms its disapproval of its territory being used to settle scores, and all parties involved must come to this understanding.” The territory and sovereignty of our nation are not suitable locations for hostilities and confrontations between adversaries.
As a matter of national, moral, and constitutional obligation, the Iraqi government shall employ all available military capabilities to safeguard our territory, urban areas, and the lives of our youth.
In the interim, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the United States’ actions have extremely perilously exacerbated the conflict in the Middle East.
Iraq Disputes US Coordination Claims
The Iraqi government subsequently refuted the White House’s claim that it had informed Iraqi officials before the military operations, charging the United States with “falsifying the facts.”
The statement continued, “Thereafter, the American side intentionally misled and fabricated the facts by claiming prior coordination to commit this aggression; this was done to mislead international public opinion and absolve itself of legal responsibility for this acquittal in accordance with all applicable international laws and regulations.”
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The United States targeted a weapons warehouse and three residences belonging to Kata’ib Hezbollah in Anbar province, western Iraq, according to an Iraqi security official who spoke to NBC News.
On Friday, at a ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, Vice President Joe Biden and senior defence officials joined bereaved families as the remains of three Army Reserve soldiers were returned to the United States.
The United States’ strikes, consisting of four in Syria and three in Iraq, failed to target Iran or its Revolutionary Guard Quds force explicitly.
Iran has denied responsibility for the assault on Jordan.
Pre-retaliatory strikes, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Iran will “respond strongly” to intimidation.
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